Track sanding device



1937. K. PRocHAzKA TRACK SANDING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1937 Ill fizvn for;

Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February 2, 1937, Serial No. 123,639 In Czechoslovakia February 11, 1936 2 Claims.

This invention relates toadevicefor distributing sand in front of the wheels of a motor vehicle in order to prevent skidding on a frozen or otherwise slippery track. The device belongs to the type which is carried by the vehicle and operated when required by the switching on of the motor, the sand distribution being effected by means of a fan, and the object of the invention is to ensure economy in the use of the sand and at the same time to prevent the sand from caking in the supplying hopper and thus interrupting the feed.

With this object in view the invention consists essentially in arranging a rotary sand feeding element in a hopper supported on and communicating with a delivery chute through which the sand is driven by means of the fan, the hopper being divided in vertical direction into three sections the central one of which is connected to the top and bottom sections by flexible sleeves and supported on the chute by elastic elements allowing a vibratory movement to be imparted to it through the medium of the feeding element.

The feeder is preferably composed of a fluted roller which co-operates with a scraper for feeding the sand in moderate quantities into the chute. By the vibration imparted to the central part of the hopper, the sand will be effectively prevented from caking in the hopper and interrupting the feed.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a sectional view of a device constructed according to the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-II of Fig. 1.

The track sanding device comprises a tubular chute 4 which is mounted on the vehicle and arranged so that, by means of a fan I6 which communicates with one end of the chute, sand fed into the latter will be discharged and distributed on the track in front of the road wheels. Either 40 a separate chute and fan are provided for each wheel of the vehicle, or the delivery end of the chute is branched ofi for supplying sand to several wheels.

For feeding sand into the chute a hopper is provided which is divided in vertical direction into three rigid sections 4, II and I. These sections are united by flexible sleeves I2 and I3 of leather or the like which allow the intermediate section I I to move relative to the sections 4 and I. The latter sections are rigidly connected to the chute 4, one directly and the other through the medium of upright bars 9. The intermediate section II is supported on the chute by elastic members III which allow a vibratory movement to be imparted to the section. The bottom section 5 4 communicates with the chute 4 and contains a sand feeding element in the form of a fluted roller 2. The grooves 3 of the roller receive sand from the hopper and deliver it into the chute 4 as the roller turns in the direction of the arrow. A scraper 5 is provided which sweeps the roller and limits the delivery of sand to the capacity of the grooves 3. The shaft 2' of the roller 2 is connected .to an electric motor 8 whereby the roller is driven, and a'pulley 'I on the shaft transmits motion to a pulley 6 which drives the fan I6. The shaft 2' also carries a pair of tappets or cams I5 in the path of which there is a pair of arms I4 connected to the intermediate hopper section I I. The arms are oscillated by the tappets and thus impart a vibratory movement to the central hopper section which will keep the sand in motion and prevent it from caking.

The motor, on being started, operates the feed ing roller as well as the fan and thus distributes 5 the sand on the track. The feeding roller co-operates with the vibratory section of the hopper and ensures a reliable sand distribution without waste of sand.

I claim: 30 1. A track sanding device for motor vehicles comprising a tubular chute, a sand hopper superposed on' and communicating with said chute, said hopper being divided in vertical direction into three sections, flexible connections uniting the three sections, rigid supporting connections between the chute and the top and, bottom sections of the hopper, elastic supporting connections between the chute and the intermediate hopper section, a rotary sand feeding element mounted in the bottom section of the hopper for delivering sand into the chute, a driving shaft for said feeding element, means operated by said shaft for imparting a vibratory movement to the intermediate hopper section, and a fan communicating with the chute for discharging the sand from the latter.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connections between the hopper sections consist of leather sleeves.

KAREL PROCHAZKA. 50 

